Icelandic Geography!

An ominous path leading into a forest in southwest Reykjavik. Surprisingly, only 1% of Iceland has tree cover.

Iceland is the world's 18th largest island, and Europe's second largest island following Great Britain. The main island is 101,826 km² but the entire country is 103,000 km² (39,768.5 sq mi) in size, of which 62.7% is tundra. Lakes and glaciers cover 14.3%; only 23% is vegetated. The largest lakes are Þórisvatn (Reservoir): 83–88 km² (32-34 sq mi) and Þingvallavatn: 82 km² (32 sq mi); other important lakes include Lögurinn and Mývatn. Öskjuvatn is the deepest lake at 220 m (722 ft).

Many fjords punctuate its 4,970 km long coastline, which is also where most settlements are situated because the island's interior, the Highlands of Iceland, is a cold and uninhabitable combination of sand and mountains. The major towns are the capital Reykjavík, Kópavogur, Hafnarfjörður, Reykjanesbær, where the international airport is located, and Akureyri. The island of Grímsey on the Arctic Circle contains the northernmost habitation of Iceland.

A shot of me trying to look tough in front of a quirky waterfall in an area of southwestern Iceland known as The Golden Circle. Note the "salmon stairs" to the left of the waterfall for aiding the local salmon population to make their way upstream to mate.

Iceland has four national parks: Jökulsárgljúfur National Park, Skaftafell National Park, Snæfellsjökull National Park, and Þingvellir National Park.

A picture of me standing in front of the intimidating final drop of the Gullfoss waterfalls.

The absolutely epic weaterfalls of Gullfoss, one of the most famous waterfalls in all of Iceland.

A complete view of my favorite waterfall in iceland, Skogafoss.

I climbed the cliffs to the right of Skogafoss to capture this epic shot.

Believe it or not, at the very top of Skogafoss is yet another set of waterfalls. Catching a glimpse of these requires quite an intense climb!

Outside the historic Thingvellir National Park, this shot shows the water-filled gap between the North American and Eurasian Tectonic plates. In places, this gap grows 6 cm. a year, slowly ripping Iceland in half.

Also at Thingvellir National Park is the gigantic Thingvallavatn lake, Iceland's largest body of water.

Strange ice formations at Mýrdalsjökull, a large glacier in southern Iceland.

Yet another strange ice formation in Mýrdalsjökull.

One of many dangerous (but beautiful) crevices throughout Mýrdalsjökull glacier.

A shot taken at the top of a glacial waterfall at Mýrdalsjökull.

Seljalandsfoss - Located in The Golden Circle and towering above most other Icelandic waterfalls at over 60 meters (200+ ft.) tall, it is possible to actually walk behind the fall itself!

A distant shot of the Hellisheiði Geothermal Power-Plant, with the volcano Hengill to its right.

Taken from the black sand beaches at Vik in southern Iceland, these volcanic pillars are called "Reynisdrangar" and are believed to bee the petrified bodies of two trolls who were turned to stone by the sudden arrival of daylight.